Deadline: 15-Jan-2026
The Bay Area Lyme Foundation has announced National Winner of the 2025 Emerging Leader Award to develop a much-needed rapid, low-cost, easy-to-use Lyme Disease Test.
These grants support new and innovative projects and aim to attract aspiring new scientific talent to the field of Lyme and other tickborne pathogen research. Candidate applications must include a viable proposal for a proof-of-concept project to be funded, in part or in sum, by the grant award.
In 2026, the Foundation will offer two $150,000 grants, including a newly introduced Tickborne Pathogen Award that supports research on other tickborne infections in the United States. Preference will be given to projects on bacterial or parasitic pathogens, though proposals on any tickborne pathogen are welcome.
This research may be conducted independently or alongside Lyme disease studies. The $150,000 Emerging Leader Awards (ELA) will be open to researchers in academia or the private sector who are currently at the post-doctoral through associate professor level or equivalent. Applicants who have not previously worked in Lyme or tickborne disease research are encouraged to apply.
The Foundation particularly seeks applicants who have identified a defined approach to improving diagnostics or therapeutics for Lyme and other tickborne diseases. Applicants must demonstrate professional and scientific leadership in the biomedical sciences, supported by a strong scientific rationale for the proposed project.
Eligible candidates must be affiliated with an academic or research institution in the U.S. or a corporate equivalent and must exhibit scientific curiosity, creativity, and a proven track record in biological or medical sciences.
The evaluation process will consider the potential for research to lead to a novel therapy or diagnostic for Lyme disease, the strength of the scientific rationale, the applicant’s ability to execute the project, and the level of institutional support.
Co-investigators may be considered but cannot receive more than 33% of the total grant amount. Applications should show potential to generate proof of concept within 12 to 24 months. Use of samples from the Lyme Disease Biobank is encouraged but not required. Awardees will be announced at the LymeAid event in May 2026.
The deadline for applications is 15 January 2026.
For more information, visit Bay Area Lyme Foundation.